Apparatus for filling and sealing aerosol containers



Oct. 13, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND SEALING AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 29, 1962 57 i I I 24 i r- 15 A .33 i Q 65 51 Q Z l 1718 51 I t} .47 J 35 4s as r 55 49 64 3,6 65.93 31 51 5: 5a ffJJ 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 F I J 19 [It I 5 I I z0- 5 i /d4 RA M INVENTORS dings.

Oct. 13, 1964 3,152,429

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND SEALING AEROSOL CONTAINERS R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1962 k W k U m lnw mm mm aw m N I?! INVENTORS QRICHARD. 5.6TANLEY EARL BRINKLEY 3,152,429 APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND SEALING AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 29, 1962 Oct. 13, 1964 R. B. STANLEY ETAL 3 Sheets$heet 3 INVENTORS B. STANLEY EARL BRINKLEY W,JM$fl/Mdwz ellttg s.

RICHARD ommm United States Patent 3,152,429 APPARATUS FOR FELLING AND SEALING AEROSGL CONTAINERS Richard B. Stanley, Park Ridge, and Earl Brinkley, Mount Prospect, lll., assignors to The Kartridg Path (30., Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,840 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-88) This invention relates to apparatus for production packaging of aerosol products and is more particularly concerned with improvements in apparatus for pressure filling a quantity of propellant into a container by holding the closure cap above the container while filling the same with propellant and thereafter sealing the cap to the charged container.

Aerosol packaging machines have heretofore been provided which include apparatus for pressure filling the container through the valve receiving top opening after the product to be dispensed has been placed in the container and a valve assembly has been loosely seated in the top opening. One form of such apparatus which is disclosed in application Serial No. 185,644, filed April 6, 1962, is characterized by a filling and crimping head in the form of a cylindrical housing with a container engaging or locating bell at the lower end which is adapted to be seated in sealed relation on the top of container while mechanism within the bell is operated to exhaust the air within the container, to lift the valve assembly above the top opening in the container, to fill the container with the desired amount of propellant under pressure, and finally to crimp seal the rim of the valve assembly within the rim of the top opening so as to close the container. While such filling and sealing or crimping apparatus has been generally satisfactory in most aerosol packaging op erations, in some instances a satisfactory print seal has not been obtained and it is a principal object of the present invention therefore to provide an improved filling and sealing head for aerosol packaging operations which results in a more satisfactory sealing of the valve assembly in the container opening.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a filling and sealing head for aerosol packaging machines wherein the vertical force on the rim of the valve cup is controlled relative to the horizontal crimping force so as to draw the metal in the rim and not from the island thereby eliminating any tendency to disassemble the valve mechanism.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide in aerosol filling equipment a filling and crimping head wherein the crimping operation is effected by mechanical force operating to draw the material for the crimping from the rim of the valve assembly and not from the bottom of the valve cup.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sealing and crimping head for filling aerosol containers which is simple in construction and efficient in operation, which is entirely mechanical and controlled by a single cam,

which employs fewer parts with a minimum of maintenance, and which is more economical to manufacture than previous constructions.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a filling and sealing head which embodies therein the principal features of the invention, the head being shown mounted on a supporting post assembly on a turret type packaging machine;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section, through the filling and sealing head, to an enlarged scale, with the various ele- 3,152,429 Patented Get. 13, 1964 ments in the retracted or non-operating position prior to engagement of the head with a container for the filling and sealing operation;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross section similar to FIGURE 2, to a larger scale, with the head moved into engagement with the aerosol container and with vacuum applied;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to FIGURE 3 with the head in the cap seal position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section similar to FIGURE 3 with the head in the pressure fill position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross section similar to FIGURE 3 with the head in the crimping or sealing position;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the cam track for controlling the operation of the head; and

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatical illustration of the container flow path and processing sequence of the packaging operation.

The filling and crimp sealing or closing head 10 which is illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be mounted on a post assembly 11 on a turret type aerosol packaging machine having a fixed base (not shown) with a rotatable platform 12 for supporting the container R beneath the head It) during the filling and sealing operations. The post assembly 11 comprises the vertically disposed post member 13 slidably supported in the housing 14 and carrying at its lower end a cam roller 15 which is received in the peripheral cam track 16 of a cam 17 secured in fixed position on the base of the machine.

The head id is mounted for vertical adjustment on the post member 13 by means of a bracket 18 and held against rotation by the key 19. The bracket 18 has a laterally extending cylindrical portion 20 with a vertical bore 21 in which a sleeve 22 is mounted. A cylindrical inner plunger member 23 is secured in the bore 21 by means of the cap member 24 which is fixed on the bracket portion 2t). The plunger member 23 has its peripheral surface spaced from the inside surface of the sleeve 22 and the upper end of a cylindrical inner bell forming member 25 is slidably received in the guideway forming recess 26 between the two members. A pin 27 extends through transverse bores in the plunger 23 and the bracket portion 20 to connect these two members in fixed relation while the inner bell member 25 is provided with transversely aligned elongate slots 28 in oppositely disposed portions of the wall thereof through which the pin 27 extends so as to permit limited vertical movement of the inner bell member 25 relative to the sleeve member 22 and the inner plunger member 23.

A cylindrical outer bell member 30 telescopes in sliding relation the lowermost end of the inner bell member 25. The two bell members 25 and 30 are connected by a locking screw 31 which is seated in a threaded transverse bore in the upper end of the outer bell member 30 and has a pin forming end extending into an elongate slot 32 in the outer surface of the inner bell member 25. A plurality of relatively light compression springs 33 have their lower ends seated in recesses 34 in the top edge of the outer bell member 36) and their upper ends seated on pins 35 extending from the lower edge of the bracket member 20 so as to normally urge the outer bell member 30 in a downward direction relative to the bracket member 20.

The outer bell 3% has a lower end portion 36 of enlarged internal diameter in which sleeve or ring members 37 and 33 are seated. The uppermost sleeve member 37 has a threaded port forming opening at 40 for connecting to a vacuum line (not shown) and a pair of seal forming ring members 41 and 41 are disposed between the peripheral edges of the ring member 37 and the bell 30 and ring member 33, respectively, which prevent loss of vacuum through the sliding connection between the outside wall of the inner bell member and the inside wall of the outer bell member (FIGURE 3). The vacuum port 46 is adapted to be connected with the interior of the inner bell 25 through a passageway 42 in the wall of the inner bell 25 when relative vertical movement of the bell members 25 and 30 moves the port and passageway 42 into alignment. The lowermost sleeve member 38 has a port forming opening 43 adapted to be connected with a propellant supply line and provided with a check valve (not shown). The port 4-3 connects the propellant line with the interior of the outer bell 30 through a downwardly inclined passageway 44. The two sleeve members 37 and 33 are held in position by a cap forming locator bell member 45 which is shaped or contoured on its internal walls to accommodate the outer margins of the top of an aerosol container and which is screwed into the lower end of the outer bell 30. A seal forming member 46 of rubber or similar resilient material is clamped between the locator bell 45 and the lowermost sleeve member 38 for sealing the top of the aerosol container.

The plunger member 23 (FIGURES 2 and 6) extends downwardly within the inner bell member 25 and has an axial recess or pocket 47 at its lower end in which the upper end of sleeve member 43 is seated. The sleeve member 48 has an internally threaded upper end section into which the threaded upper end of the stem forming portion 49 of plunger member 58 is screwed. The sleeve member 48 is held against axial movement in the pocket 47 by a set screw SI. An O-ring seal 52 is provided between the upper end of the plunger stem 49 and the internal wall of the sleeve member 48 below the threaded connection between these members. A sealing ring as sembly 53 is disposed in the lower end of the inner bell member 25 with an upper threaded portion screwed into the internally threaded portion of the bell member 25 adjacent the lower end thereof so as to connect the same therewith for axial adjustment, the position of the assembly 53 depending upon the depth of crimp. An O-ring 54 is disposed between the external surface of the sealing ring 53 and the internal surface of the lower end portion of the inner bell member 25, the latter having a section of increased internal diameter at its end. An internal O-ring 55 is seated in a recess in the lower end of the sealing ring 53 and forms a cap engaging seal. A crimping collet 56 is disposed between the lower end of the inner bell 25 and the lower end of the inner plunger 50 with an external shoulder formation 57 at its upper end which is received in the lower portion of the upper bore of the inner bell member 25. The segments or jaws of the expansible collet 56 are held in assembled relation by the resilient inner and outer split rings 58 and 59, the latter being interposed between the shoulder formation 57 and a seat forming internal shoulder 60 in the inner bell member 25. A sealing ring assembly 61 surrounds the stem portion 49 of the plunger member 549 and bears on the upper edge of the shoulder formation 57 of the collet 56. The ring assembly 61 is provided with internal and external O-rings 62 and 63 for sealing engagement with the internal surface of the inner bell member 25 and the external surface of the plunger stem 49. Compression spring members 64 and 65 are interposed between the top of the sealing ring 61 and the bottom of the internal plunger member 23. The uppermost spring 64 is a rela tively light coil spring which is seated at the upper end against the lower edge of the member 23 and at its lower end against the top of the spring 65. The lowermost spring 65 is a Belleville washer type compression spring which is adapted to exert relatively heavy spring pressure.

A vacuum spoiler rod member 66 extends through axially aligned bores in the lower plunger 50, the upper plunger member 23, the pin 27 and the cap 24. The rod 66 has a weight forming nut 67 adjustably mounted on the top and a lock nut 68. The rod member 66 is freely slidable vertically against the weight of the nut 67. A post 69 extends upwardly from the cap 24 and carries a stop member 76 at its top end which extends into the vertical path of the rod 66 so as to limit the upward movement of the latter.

The operation of the filling and sealing head 10 may be understood from the successive positions thereof shown in FIGURES 2 to 6, the layout of the controlling cam track shown in FIGURE 7 and the diagram of FIG- URE 8. At the beginning of a cycle of movement the head It) is suspended as shown in FIGURE 2 above the container support 12. As a container R with a closure cap and valve assembly C loosely seated in the mouth thereof is moved into position beneath the head 10 the operating post 13 moves downwardly to seat the locator bell 45 on the top of the container as shown in FIG- URE 3. The springs 33 are compressed to bias the outer bell 39 against the top of the container for loading the sealing ring 4-6 sufliciently to create a leak proof seal about the upper end of the container so as to enclose the mouth of the container within the end of the hell 30. This portion of the operation is controlled by the cam track section labeled infeed in FIGURE 7. The relative movement between the inner bell 25 and the outer bell 3% is sufiicient to register the vacuum passage 42 in the wall of the inner bell 25 with the vacuum port 40 in the outer bell. This subjects the region at the top of the container to the vacuum for first elevating the cap as shown in FIGURE 3 and for thereafter vacuum purging air or other gaseous material in the container. At this stage the vacuum spoiler rod 66 engages with the top of the finger piece on the valve assembly which is carried in the cap C, the latter being loosely seated in the mouth of the container R and forming the closure therefore. The rod 66 limits the upward movement of the cap C so that the rim thereof is spaced below the cap seal member 55 and the vacuum passage which extends upwardly between collet 56 and the sealing ring assembly 53 to the passageway 4-2 is held open.

After dwelling at this vacuum level for a time sufficient to complete vacuum purging of the container R, the operating post 13 again moves downwardly further compressing the springs 33 and carrying the inner bell 25 together with the collet 56 downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 4 where the cap C is again seated in the opening in the container R with the cap seal member 55 engaging the rim of the cap C under the force exerted by the light compression spring 64. This phase of the operation is controlled by the section of the cam track labeled cap seal in FIGURE 7. At this point the pas sageway 44 at the end of port 43 connecting the inner bell 30 with the propellant supply line is not completely covered by the lower end of the inner bell 25 and when the check valve in the propellant feed line is opened to supply a charge of propellant under high pressure the blast of the propellant as it enters the chamber forces the inner bell 25 and its associated mechanism upwardly against the force of the light spring 64, further compressing the latter. The cap C is raised by the blast of propellant with the inner bell 25 maintaining contact with the seal ring 55 so as to close off the passageway to the vacuum line and confine the propellant to the space provided for it in the container R and the chamber formed by sealing the outer bell 30 against the top of the container R. This places the apparatus in the position shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings where it is maintained during the pressure filling phase by the section of the cam labeled pressure fill in FIGURE 7.

Propellant is supplied under pressure through the sup ply line and its check valve into the head 10 until the required amount of propellant has been delivered to the container R. When the check valve operates to cut off the delivery of propellant which completes the filling phase of the operation the operating post 13 is lowered further to its lowermost position driving the collet 56 downwardly and seating the cap C in the mouth of the container R. This final movement compresses both the light spring 64 and the heavy spring 65, the latter being compressed at the very end of the movement so as to exert a final driving force on the plunger 50 and simultaneously moving the jaw segments of the collet 56 downwardly and outwardly to crimp the rim of the cap C onto the rim of the mouth of the container R. The final downward movement of the post 13 also further compresses the springs 33 and increases the force applied to the top of the container R by the outer bell 30 insuring a tight seal while the crimping is efiected.

At the end of the crimp sealing operation the operating post 13 is raised allowing the compression springs 64 and 65 to expand, the latter being the heavier spring expanding first with a relatively quick movement which is efitective to break the plunger 50 loose from the collet 56, these two members tending to lock together because of the wedging action which effects the crimping. The post 13 rises to a point where the entire head is raised to the initial position of FIGURE 2, above the top of the container R and trees the container for removal from beneath the head. This movement is affected by the section of the cam track which is labeled outfeed in FIG- URE 7.

The head 10 is adapted to be adjusted to facilitate its use for containers and closure caps of slightly different crimp depths and crimp diameters. The adjustment for the crimp depth, which is the distance between the bottom end of the seal assembly 53 and the bottom of the jaws of the collet 56, is accomplished by rotating the seal assembly 53 relative to the inner bell 25. The adjustment for the crimp diameter which is the radial spacing of the collet jaws is accomplished by adjusting the stroke of the plunger fit). The plunger 50 has a screw threaded connection with the member 23 so that the length of the plunger may be varied for dilierent crimp diameters. The vacuum spoiler rod 66 may be adjusted by turning the nut 68 to the proper height for limiting the upward movement of the cap C and to accommodate valve elements of different height.

The head lid is illustrated and described as forming part of a turret type packaging machine. However, it is not limited to use on a turret machine but it may be used on a straight line machine or in a stationary position with a suitable moving cam for operating the supporting post 13 to provide the proper sequence of operations.

While particular materials and specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the apparatus it will be understood that other materials and equivalent details of the construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A filling and closing head unit for aenosol packaging machines comprising a reciprocably mounted bracket forming member having a cylindrical portion with a vertically disposed plunger member fixed therein, a cylindrical inner bell member having its upper end slidably received between the plunger and the cylindrical bracket portion, a cylindrical outer bell member telescoping the lower end of said inner bell member, compressible members between said cylindrical bracket portion and said outer bell member urging the outer bell member downwardly for engagement of the open lower end thereof over the top of an aerosol container disposed beneath the head with a closure cap seated in the top opening thereof, means forming a seal between the outer bell member and the top of the container, means forming a passageway through the wall of the outer bell member adjacent said seal forming means for connection with a propellant supply line, means forming a passageway through the wall of said outer bell member for connection with a vacuum line, said vacuum passageway being normally closed by the wall of the inner bell member, a

passageway in the wall of said inner bell member which is adapted to register with the vacuum passageway in the outer bell member upon predetermined relative movement in an axial direction of said bell members, a sealing ring assembly in the lower end of said inner bell member, a crimp forming collet having expansible jaw members interposed between said sealing ring assembly and the lower end of said plunger and compression springs between said plunger and said collet and inner bell members for urging said collet and inner bell members downwardly when said bracket forming member is lowered while said outer bell member is engaged with the top of said aerosol container and said plunger moves downwardly and engages and expands the jaw members of said collet to crimp seal the closure cap.

2. A filling and closing head unit as recited in claim 1 and said compression springs including a relatively heavy spring with a short stroke and a relatively light spring with a substantially longer stroke.

3. A filling and closing head unit for aerosol con tainer packaging machines comprising a reciprocably mounted bracket member having a portion forming a cylindrical chamber with a vertically disposed plunger member fixed therein, a cylindrical inner bell member having its upper end slidably received between the plunger member and said bracket portion, a cylindrical outer bell member telescoping the lower end of said inner bell member, relatively light compression springs between said bracket portion and said outer bell member urging the outer bell member downwardly for engagement over the top of an aerosol container disposed beneath the same with a closure cap loosely seated in a top opening, said outer bell member having a passageway adjacent its lower end for connection with a propellant supply line, said outer bell member having a passageway for connection with a vacuum line which is normally closed by the wall of the inner bell member and opened upon predetermined relative movement in an axial direction of said beli members, a sealing ring in the lower end of said inner bell member for engaging the rim of the closure cap in the top of the container, at collet having expansible crimping jaws interposed between said sealing ring and the lower end of said plunger member and compression springs between said plunger and said inner bell for applying downward pressure on said inner bell member when said plunger is loosened to spread the jaws of said collet by downward movement of said bracket forming member while said outer bell member is engaged with the top of said aerosol container.

4. A filling and closing head unit for aerosol container packaging machines comprising a reciprocably mounted bracket member having a downwardly opening cylindrical chamber, a vertically disposed plunger member fixed in said chamber, a cylindrical inner bell member having its upper end slidably received between the plunger and the bracket, a cylindrical outer bell member telescoping the lower end of said inner bell member, relatively light compression springs between said bracket and said outer bell member urging the outer bell member downwardly for engagement over the top of an aerosol container disposed beneath the same with a closure cap seated in a top opening in the container, means forming a seal between the outer bell member and the top of the container, means forming a passageway through the wall of the outer bell member for connection with a propellant supply line, means forming a passageway through the wall of said outer bell member for connection with a vacuum line, the wall of said inner bell member having a passageway which is adapted to register with the vacuum passageway in the outer bell member upon predetermined relative movement in an axial direction of said bell members, a sealing ring in the lower end of said inner bell member, a collet having crimping jaws in the lower end of said inner bell member and encompassing the lower end of said plunger and pressure applying springs engaging between an external shoulder on said plunger and said inner bell member for urging said inner bell member downwardly when said bracket forming member is lowered to engage said outer bell member with the top of said aerosol container and to lower said plunger so as to engage the jaws of said collet and crimp seal the closure cap onto the rim of the top opening in the container.

5. A filling and closing head as recited in claim 4 and said pressure applying springs encircling said plunger and comprising a relatively strong compression spring with a short stroke and a lighter spring with a a longer strok 6. A filling and crimping head for aerosol packaging machines comphrising a housing forming member carried on a supporting bracket which is mounted for vertical reciprocation, a plunger mounted in depending fixed relation in said housing, a cylindrical collet supporting member mounted in telescoping sliding relation on said plunger, a cylindrical container engaging member mounted in sliding relation on the lower end of said collet supporting member, resilient compressible members disposed between the lower end of said housing and the upper end of said container engaging member, a crimping collet having expansible jaws in the lower end of said collet supporting member and encompassing the lower end of said plunger member, and compression spizngs extending between said plunger member and said crimping collet which apply vertical pressure on the collet when the head is lowered so as to first clamp the container engaging member on the top of a container which is disposed in upright fixed position beneath the head, then to engage the collet within a cup shaped cap loosely positioned in the top opening of the container, and finally to engage the lower end of the plunger member with the collet jaws and expand the same.

7. A filling and crimping head as recited in claim 6 and a cap seal forming assembly on the lower end of said collet supporting member for engaging the rim of the cap prior to the expansion of the collet jaws.

8. A filling and crimping head for aerosol packaging machines comprising a housing carried on a supporting bracket mounted for vertical reciprocation, a plunger forming assembly having an upper member mounted in fixed relation in said housing and a lower member connected thereto for adjustment in an axial direction, a collet supporting member mounted in telescoping sliding relation on said upper plunger member, a container engaging and clamping member mounted in sliding relation on the lower end of said collet supporting member, a resilient compressible member disposed between the lower end of said housing and the upper end of said container engaging and clamping member, a crimping collet having expansible jaws supported in the lower end of said collet supporting member between the lower end of the lower plunger member and said collet supporting member, and compression springs extending between said upper plunger member and said crimping collet which apply vertical pressure on the collet and its supporting member lowered to force the supporting member into pressure applying engagement with the rim of a cup shaped closure cap seated in the top opening of the container when the head is lowered to clamp the container and to move the lower plunger member into jaw expanding relation with the crimping collet.

9. n a filling and crimping head for aerosol packaging machines comprising a housing which is carried on a supporting bracket mounted for vertical reciprocation, a plunger forming assembly having an upper member mounted in fixed depending relation in said housing and a lower member having a screw threaded connection with the upper plunger member, a cylinder mounted in telescoping sliding relation on said upper plunger member, a crimping collet having expansible segmental jaws mounted in the lower end of said cylinder and extending around the end of said lower plunger member, and compression springs extending between said upper plunger member and the upper end of crimping collet which apply vertical pressure on the collet when the head and the plunger are lowered to engage the plunger with the collet jaws for expanding the same.

10. In a filling and crimping head as recited in claim 9 and said compression springs comprising a relatively long coil spring of light strength and a relatively short Belleville" washer type spring of high strength.

11. Apparatus for under cap filling and crimp sealing aerosol containers comprising a housing forming bracket mounted for vertical movement, a plunger assembly mounted in vertically disposed fixed relation in said housing, an inner cylindrical member telescoping the plunger assembly, an outer cylindrical member telescoping the lower portion of said inner cylindrical member and having its lower end open, means on said lower end to engage in pressure applying and sealing relation with the top of an aerosol container, when said container is disposed in upright fixed position beneath said outer cylinder member with a cup shaped cap loosely seated in its mouth forming opening, so as to form a closed chamber above the container top, means connecting said chamber with a vacuum source, means connecting said chamber with a propellant supply line, a crimping collet having cap engaging jaws in the lower end of said inner cylindrical member and encompassing the lower end of said plunger, said plunger assembly having an axially adjustable lower end portion which is adapted to expand the jaws of said crimping collet when moved downwardly within said collet, and resilient high compression producing means between the inner cylindrical member and the plunger.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, and said resilient high compression producing means comprising an upper coil spring of relatively light compressive strength and a relatively long stroke and a lower washer type compression spring of relatively high compressive strength and relatively short stroke, and said springs being arranged in axial alignment.

No references cited. 

9. IN A FILLING AND CRIMPING HEAD FOR AEROSOL PACKAGING MACHINES COMPRISING A HOUSING WHICH IS CARRIED ON A SUPPORTING BRACKET MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION, A PLUNGER FORMING ASSEMBLY HAVING AN UPPER MEMBER MOUNTED IN FIXED DEPENDING RELATION IN SAID HOUSING AND A LOWER MEMBER HAVING A SCREW THREADED CONNECTION WITH THE UPPER PLUNGER MEMBER, A CYLINDER MOUNTED IN TELESCOPING SLIDING RELATION ON SAID UPPER PLUNGER MEMBER, A CRIMPING COLLET HAVING EXPANSIBLE SEGMENTAL JAWS MOUNTED IN THE LOWER END OF SAID CYLINDER AND EXTENDING AROUND THE END OF SAID LOWER PLUNGER MEMBER, AND COMPRESSION SPRINGS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID UPPER PLUNGER MEMBER AND THE UPPER END OF CRIMPING COLLET WHICH APPLY VERTICAL PRESSURE ON THE COLLET WHEN THE HEAD AND THE PLUNGER ARE LOWERED TO ENGAGE THE PLUNGER WITH THE COLLET JAWS FOR EXPANDING THE SAME. 